A Historic Beachside Cottage Inspired by the Mediterranean

On Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, the architectural reimagining of a 19th-century stone cottage has transformed it into a flowing series of spaces that embody its seaside location

‘The clients, Jeanette and Richard, had admired the home for years,’ says Richard Misso, creative director of interior design studio The Stylesmiths, of this historic limestone cottage. ‘They passed it regularly on their walks through Sorrento. Richard, being a builder, had a strong and immediate vision for it.’ And for good reason: one of only a handful of original early settler limestone cottages in the town, the home is perched just above Port Phillip Bay, with views softened by rows of century-old cypress trees.

The original home dates to 1879. ‘It had beautiful bones, but the layout was completely fragmented,’ recalls architect Marco Di Bartolo. ‘A second storey had been added at one point, accessed by a timber staircase bolted to the outside. There was a separate garage, a disconnected studio — it didn’t flow at all.’

The brief drew on the homeowners’ Italian roots: a home that felt like a Mediterranean holiday. ‘Being Italian, I knew I wanted a courtyard, arches, places to gather and entertain,’ says Richard. ‘But it had to feel grounded here in Sorrento, not like we airlifted it in from Positano.’

This translated into a desire for warmth, flow and spaces for entertaining while maintaining the integrity of the original sandstone cottage and retaining as much of the existing structure as possible, including repurposing the outbuildings and keeping an old well that’s now a glass-topped wine store. 

The architectural response was a restrained reinterpretation of the home’s historical language. ‘We didn’t want to replicate the past or do a hyper-modern extension. Instead, we allowed the original limestone to lead, and everything else followed,’ says Di Bartolo. Much of the old stone was left exposed, contrasting with a warm micro-cement finish developed to colour-match the limestone. This became the connective tissue that allowed The Stylesmiths to build tonal depth while keeping things calm and grounded.

The effortless result belies the complex renovation, which required a full excavation to insert a basement garage and unify split-level outbuildings. Spatially, the central courtyard is the defining feature. Arches repeat along the surrounding colonnade, inspired by an opening in the original home. Their rhythm draws the eye to the pool and beyond, where the pale limestone terrace frames views of the bay. An outdoor kitchen and pool bar sit tucked into the edge of the home, ready for languid afternoons. ‘Arches are a visual lullaby, they create calm,’ says Di Bartolo. ‘Functionally, they link indoor and outdoor spaces, connecting a guest suite, an al fresco dining area and a wine bar with the main living zones.

Decorative details complement the architecture without overwhelming it. ‘The furnishings reflect a refined, laid-back sensibility — think linen-upholstered sofas, hand-turned timber stools and low-slung occasional chairs in soft boucle and woven leather,’ says Misso. ‘We chose pieces for their sculptural presence and tactile appeal, with many locally crafted or custom-made to suit the space.’ These custom pieces include the curved kitchen island, sculpted of layered stone and micro-cement, whose soft geometry and subtle patina make it feel both contemporary and grounded, Misso points out. ‘The custom archway joinery and inset niches throughout the home were also designed to echo the rhythm of the original architecture,’ he says.

Misso describes the overall palette as ‘tonal and grounded’, with the result feeling ‘curated yet deeply relaxed — as if it has evolved over time.’ The location, he says, captures the essence of Sorrento: ‘relaxed but refined, heritage-rich yet always embracing the horizon,’ says Misso. And so, ineffably, does the home itself.

Text by Philip Annetta
Images by Timothy Kaye